Fountain pen



C. MELLONIS Sept. 9, 1947.

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Feb. 7, 1945 Jul? INVENTOR. CONSTANTINE NELLONIS Patented Sept. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fountain pens, and has more particular reference to an improved fountain pen barrel.

More specifically, the invention proposes to characterize the new barrel by a piston slidably mounted in the barrel and having a cylindrical coaxial hollow communicating with a diagonal bottom slot extending through the bottom of the piston. It is proposed to provide a piston rod slidably mounted coaxially through the closed top end of the barrel and passing through said piston and having a T-shaped bottom end for engaging through said bottom slot and then into said cylindrical hollow for releasable connection with said piston. With this construction the pen itself is enabled to hold a larger quantity of ink than is normally possible.

With the new and improved construction th piston rod may be connected and disconnected from the piston very simply and easily so that the piston may be operated for drawing in or discharging ink from the cylinder.

The invention also proposes a modified form in which the connecting elements between the piston and piston rod are improved.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a fountain pen constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 2 but illustrated in different positions.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

The new and improved fountain pen, in accordance with this invention, includes an ink barrel l0 having a closed top end I I. This end is closed with a plug. A piston I2 is slidably mounted in the barrel Ill and is formed with a cylindrical coaxial hollow l 4 communicating with a diametral bottom slot 15 extending through the bottom of the piston. A piston rod I6 is slidably mounted coaxially through the closed top end ll of said barrel l0 and passes through the piston l2 and is provided with a T-shaped bottom end or bar l8 for engaging through said bottom slot [5 and then into said cylindrical hollow M for releasable connection with the piston l2.

The bottom end of the ink barrel [0 is provided with a passage l9 which connects up with a pen-nib supporting member 2i provided with a pen nib 22. A holding bushing 23 is threadedly mounted upon the bottom end of the barrel l0 and engages over the pen-nib supporting member 2|, holding it in position against the bottom end of the barrel Ill. The bushing 23 has a bore 25 about the pen-nib supporting member 2| and into which the back end of the pen nib 22 engages. A cover 26 is threadedly engaged over the top end of the barrel ID. This cover shields the top end of the stem l6. It may be removed when desired. The top end of the stem I6 is provided with a knob 21 by which the stem may be manipulated.

The operation of the improved ink barrel is as follows:

The knob 21 may be pulled out so as to move the stem I6 outwards so that the T-shaped bottom end l8 engages against the bottom of the piston 12. Then the knob 21 is turned to a position in which the T-shaped bottom l8 engages through the slot l5. The knob 21 is then turned about more so as to place the T- 'shaped bottom H3 at right angles to the slot l5. Now the stem I6 may be moved downwards so as to move the piston I2 downwards to a bottom position, indicated by the dot and dash lines in- Figs. 1 and 2. The nib 22 of the fountain pen may now be engaged in a supply of ink and then the stem It may be moved outwards so as to move the piston I2 back to the top of the barrel ID. This draws in a supply of ink. The stem I6 is then turned and slightly pushed downwards until the T-shaped bottom end bar l8 passes out through the slot l5. Now the stem [6 may be pushed all the way down so that the cap 26 may be engaged over the top end of the barrel ID. The pen is now full of ink.

The dominating feature of the invention resides in the provision of the T-shaped bottom end bar I8, the cooperative slot [5, and the hollow M. With this construction the stem I6 may be quickly and easily connected with the disconnected from the piston l2, as desired.

In Figs. -8 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed in which the top and bottom faces of the cylindrical hollow M are formed with a plurality of opposed radially extending grooves 38'. The'piston rod 3| is formed from, an outer tubular section 32 and an inner section 33. These sections may be non-rotatively connected, by the fact that the upper ends of these" These square The outer tubular section 32 flanged as. at 32a has a portion of a T-shaped bottom end 35 which is cooperative with another Tshaped-bot-.

tom end portion 36 formed on the bottom end of; the; inner seotion,,33.; 'Ifhe- T shapedportion 3.514s; semi-cylindrical; while the T shaped; bot.- tom portion; 36=-is; cylindrical; and adapted to fit into; the semi-cylindrical portion-.35.

The-.-b.ottom-' end; portion 38 or the; inner section; 331s, reduced in outer diameter. An: expansion: spring 39n is engaged onthis reduced portion. 38 and acts between; the flange 32 of the tubular inner section- 33 and the T-shaped bottom end bar 36, for normally urging. the T- shapedbottom end; bar 3.? downwards relative tethe- I -shaped: bottom end channel 35, The outer-ton endofthe-outer tubular section 32- is providedwith adownwardly flared handle portion; at]; which is. opposed to andupwardly flared handle-portion 4-1 mounted upon the top outer end" of the =innersection. 33,

lltgwilh be possible, by looking; at the top mem, bersreil and. M; to: tell if theparts 35 and 36- are aligned and in order to-close them or align them so.-that theyswi ll pass intoor out. of, the slot IE, it is;only necessary,to turn thepar-ts 40- and 4| until they-snap together, which is-caused by the spring: 39,-when. the: parts. 3.5 and 35 come into al mnent:

The'operatiom of; this; form of the invention is-somewhat similarto the prior form-., Its. opera! hon-distinguishesin the fact. that when the T- shapedz portions 35. and 36 areto, be passed through the diagonal bottom slot [5 intethe pisrton-l 2,.it is necessary that .the T-shapecl rodportion 36 be aligned with and seated in the T-.shaped channel portion 35. by pressing the fingers betweenthe-fiared portions Land. M, which, forces the inner section 33 upwardsrelative to the outer tubula'rr sectionv 32, against the resistance of spring 39. Nowthestem 3t may. be turned and when the finger is, removed from, between the flared! portions 40 and. M the spring 39 will force the l?-shaped. portions 35 and 36 apart and. engagegthem-incertain ones of the opposed grooves 30. This will: tightly connect the piston rod 3!. with the; piston. [2.1

When it is desired to disconnect the piston rod. 3t fromthe: piston 12 it, is.- necessary to force thesfiared. parts. All and 4! slightly apart so as to engage -the T-shaped portion rod. 36 into, the ii-shaped channel 35. and. now the stem 3 I- may befiiurned until-these portions are passed out ronrtheslot [5;

While I; havei-llustrated, and described the. preferred embodiments of-myinvention, it is to be. understood that-Iido not limit myself to the precise constructions herein isclos d and the right is. reserved to:a1l changgsr mlz modific tions coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a fountain pen barrel, an ink barrel having a closed top end, a piston slidably mounted in said barrel and having a cylindrical coaxial hollow communicating with a diagonal bottom slot extending; through the. bottom of said piston, and piston rod slidably mounted coaxially through the closed top end of said barrel and passing through said piston and having a T- shaped bottom end for engaging through said bottom slot and then into said cylindrical hollow for releasable connection with said piston, the topands bottom faces of said cylindrical hollow haying radially extending opposed grooves and said piston rod comprising an outer tubular section having a portion of said T-shaped bottom end and. an inner section having another portion of said T-shaped bottom end, resilient means for separating said T-shaped portions,. and handles on the outer ends of said sections by which said T-shaped portions may be aligned and moved together,

21 In a fountain pen barrel, an ink barrel having a. closed top end, a piston slidably mounted in said barrel and having acylindrical: coaxial hollow communicating with. a diagonal bottom slot extending through the bottom of said piston, and: a piston rod slidably. mounted: coaxially through the closed top end of said barrel and passing through said pistonand having a, T.- shaped bottom end for engaging through said bottom-slot and then intosaid cylindrical hollow for releasable connectionv with said piston, the top and bottom faces of said; cylindrical hollow having radially extending opposed grooves, and saidpiston rod comprising an outertubular section. having a portion of said- T shapecl bottom end: and an inner section having another portion of said T-shapedibottom'end, resilient means for separating said T'-shapedportions, and-handles on the outer ends ofsaid sections by- Which said T-shaped portions. may be aligned: and' moved. together, said resilient means; comprising a spring.

3; In a fountain pen barrel; aninkbarrel having a closed: top end, a piston slidably. mounted in said barrel and having. acylindrical' coaxial hollow communicating with a diagonal bottom slot extending through the bottom. of said piston, a piston rod slidably mounted coaxially through the closed top. end. or said barrel and passing through said piston and having a T shaped bottom end for engaging through said bottom slot and then into said: cylindrical hollow for releasable connection with; said piston, the top and bottom faces. of said: cylindrical hollow having radially extending opposed grooves, and said piston rod comprising an outer tubular section shaped'to provide the channel portionof said T-shaped bottom end and an inner section having another portion ofsaid'F-shaped bottom end shaped to provide a crossbar for engagement in aid channel, resilient means. for separating said T-shaped portions, and handles onthe'outer ends of said sections by which said T'-shaped-portions may be aligned and moved together, said resilient. means comprising a spring, mounted upon a reduced portion of said inner sectionand acting between aflange of the. outer tubular section. and. the T-shaped. bottom cross. bar end.

4. In a fountain pen barrel;;a.,pl1 gfor closingthe REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 1,445,900 1,409,616 1,239,972 1,262,547 14,425

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McKay Feb. 20, 1923 Taddeo Mar, 14, 1922 Ruff Sept. 11, 1917 Nedland Apr. 9, 1918 Warren Mar. 11, 1856 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France 1922 Italy -1 1933 

